Entrepreneur: Natividad Cheng

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Natividad Cheng

Foam Industry in the Philippines

Natividad Yabut Cheng is of Chinese descent, born on December 29, 1929.

She began working as a clerk in Binondo at age 17, where she eventually met her husband, Robert Cheng. Natividad only had the privilege to finish high school since her family was struggling with finances. One of her dreams was to become a nurse; however, her parents could not afford a college education. At 22 years old, she married her late husband, Robert Cheng, and had three children.

Her business venture stemmed from their buy-and-sell business as a couple with a mere capital of P4,000, which eventually evolved into one of the leading manufacturers of foam and furniture in the Philippines, Uratex.

Natividad Cheng’s influence in the world of business is an inspiration to women and is one of the most important entrepreneurs in the history of the Philippines.

Article The humble beginnings of Natividad Cheng Natividad Cheng and her husband, Robert, founded Uratex, a leading foam manufacturer in the Philippines, 55 years ago. The company started from a capital of PHP 4,000 and 10 employees that molded Uratex into one of the leading foam manufacturers in the Philippines, focused on providing high-quality foams and affordable mattresses for Filipinos. With 25 plants and 18 showrooms nationwide, Uratex has diversified its company to cater to other industries and partnerships as well under the Uratex/RGC Group of Companies.

The 55-year-old enterprise includes business groups specializing in automotive parts and seats, foams and mattresses, monoblock and home accessories, fabrics, and food packaging. Uratex's success was a slow and steady path filled with trial and error, but the support of families, employees, suppliers, and friends has paved the way for Natividad Cheng’s success.

Who is Natividad Cheng?

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B U S I N E S S

Uratex is the primary manufacturer of foams and mattresses in the country. The company's diverse range of brands serves various markets, offering a wide array of products including mattresses, sofabeds, portable beds, pillows, and bed accessories designed to enhance sleep quality. Renowned for its unwavering commitment to excellence, Uratex has earned the title of Sleep Specialist, consistently leading in sleep solutions and becoming a household name synonymous with quality in the foam and bedding industry. Today, Uratex remains dedicated to offering Filipinos comfortable and affordable mattresses through its 21 plants across the country. It is also a crucial supplier to leading companies in the hotel and furniture sectors and exports its products to Australia and Vietnam.

Uratex Trill Mattress

Uratex Senso Memory Mattress

Key to Success Nearly 50 years ago, Natividad "Naty" Cheng and her husband launched Uratex, a buy-andsell business, from a makeshift outdoor office under a Santol tree. When they struggled to support their growing family, Natividad encouraged her husband to leave his job and start their own venture. Overcoming numerous challenges, she remained steadfast in her vision. They initially struggled to find a reliable source for mattress foam, so they decided to manufacture it themselves. Using their trading savings, they imported a machine from Taiwan and opened their first factory in 1968, which resulted in a hundredfold increase in annual sales. Cheng's leadership and dedication to quality have distinguished Uratex, securing its position as an industry leader for more than fifty years. Their major breakthrough came when Sheraton Hotel sought a dependable supplier for construction and furniture materials. In recognition of her achievements, Natividad Cheng was named Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 by Ernst & Young and received the title of Master Entrepreneur of the Year in the Philippines.

Rags to Riches Growing up with financial constraints, Natividad Cheng was not able to get into college and pursue her dream of being a nurse. She shared how difficult being underprivileged is wherein she sometimes cannot eat three times a day and had to share one apartment with 24 people.

At a young age she was already working as a clerk in Binondo. After marrying her husband, they still had problems with money especially with their growing family. Their salaries were not enough and from then on, their business venture was born. Through their determination and innovation, they realized how foam was high in demand however there were not enough stocks. With this they decided to manufacture their own foam. As their business bloomed, challenges were inevitable.

The Chengs’ foam manufacturing business was devastated by a fire in 1970, destroying their investment. However, they swiftly regrouped, using their insurance payout to settle debts with suppliers and creditors and negotiating payment plans to keep the business running.

Naty Cheng's resilience shone through as she immediately focused on restarting the business, importing a new machine from Taiwan to replace the one lost in the fire. They quickly rebuilt their manufacturing setup, demonstrating their resourcefulness. Naty Cheng's thriftiness played a crucial role in their recovery; even after the business became profitable, they continued to live modestly in a single room in their factory. She managed finances with discipline, often cutting unnecessary expenses to save money for factory expansion and better machinery.

Characteristics of Natividad Cheng

Prudent

Efficient

Business Sense Creativity Resilience

Compassion

Determination

REFERENCES MAGAZINE: https://thebusinessmanual-onemega.com/how-uratex-grew-wellloved-brand-founder-natividad-cheng/

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/manilabulletin/20171122/282016147629595 https://business.inquirer.net/145083/uratex-plans-and-its-secrets https://www.esquiremag.ph/money/industry/business-lessons-fromnaty-cheng-co-founder-and-ceo-uratex-group-of-companiesa7059-20240507-lfrm4 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2017/11/14/50-years-of-passiondedication-a-chief-speaks/ https://medium.com/@uratexphilippines/uratex-philippines-sets-anew-guinness-world-record-on-its-55th-anniversary-0237d26a2a25

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